Cluster-back for jewelry



0. P. BAILER.

CLUSTER BACK FOR JEWELRY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1919.

Patented J 11110 15, 192

' l/VI/E/VTOR Orro P BuLER,

ATTORMEYS WITNESSES V I murao o'r 'ro r. BAILER, oF-MEjMrHIs, TENNESSEE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro P. BAILER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clusten Backs for Jewelry, of which the following is a specification.

My 1 invention relates to gem cluster setting and more particularly to the cluster back used in setting cluster tops in various mountings, 'and its application to such mountings.

I-Ieretofore in the manufacture of cluster settings for jewels it has been a practice to form the back of a number of wires attached and soldered to the cluster top to represent a single stone, and being sosoldered on the top it can only be used in that way, that is the cluster back is not interchangeable or adaptable to different styles of mountings.

Among other empedients for cluster settings it has been proposed to solder the cluster back to a ring mounting on inside the prongs of the ring. j

In both of the illustrations given, solder is necessarily used, and this must be done by a skilled Workman.

The principal object of my invention is to do away with use of a necessity for solder, thus reducing the cost of manufacture. v

' Another object isto provide a cluster back that is interchangeable and can be quickly applied or removed from any form of settlIl I u Enother object is to provide a cluster back provided with facet elements to simulate the facets of a full gem.

A further object is to provide a reticulated basket-shaped cluster back having portions designed to receive and hold enamel facets.

With these and other objects in View! my invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and 001m bination of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a ring and its mounting showing application of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved cluster back;

CLUSTER-BACK FOR JEWELRY.

V v Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 1 5, 1920, Application filed. Ma 1919. Serial'No. 293,526. l

F 3 is a side elevation of same; and Fig. 4 1s a side elevation of a cluster top adapted for combination with my cluster back.

In carrying out my invention I may use gold, silver, platinum, or any other metal for the back, and I use a single seamless plate of the metal selected, and by any which is formed by the annular rim C, and

the apex of the cone a circular perforat1on I) 1s made.

The annular rim C is provided with one 01' more upwardly projecting lugs E, preferably of generally triangular shape with the apex projecting upwardly, and the function of the lug is to fitiinto a' similar shaped depression or socket in a cluster top, to prevent relative rotary movement of the two when combined. In Fig. 4: is shown a cluster top F which may be conventional, except that it is provided with one or more notches or sockets f in the lower face at its edge.

Themanner of utilizing my invention, the

cluster back having been provided with lug or lugs E and the cluster top F provided with the notch f, the back and top are united Y or interlocked by bringing the rim of the cluster back and the base of the cluster top together ith the lug E fitting andv seated in the notch f; with the cluster back and cluster top so combined they are placed in the ring mount, with the rim C resting on the prongs G of the ring Gr; theclaws G are then upset or clenched over the cluster top at the various points of contact and the setting is then complete.

With the parts so constructed and arranged a very' effective cluster setting is produced, and the effect may be enhanced by filling the piercings or interstices A A with transparent enamel to more clearly represent the back of the diamond. This may be done by filling the piercings with powdered enamel and fusing the same in an electric furnace.

The facet piercings A A, of course, are designed to represent the facets of a diamond, and it is obvious that they may be V of different shapes than those illustratedin the present instance. In place of enamel in the facets, highly polished metal can be used. V The perforation or opening D at the lower end of the cluster back can be made any size desired, and enhancesthe simulation of the .so-called hole atthe back of real diamonds. 'The hole or culet may also be used for cleaning the back of the cluster;

From the above it will be seen that I produce a cluster back that is made of a single piece of material and is seamless, one

that is entirely solderless in either its make up or application to other parts ofthe setting and one that is interchangeable and can be applied to other clusters now in use or to the clusters of other make without the aid of solder, and one with the use of which thewhole setting is held firmly in place and the parts held against relative rotary movement with respect to each other. 7

I claim 1. In gem settings of the type employing separable cluster tops and backings, a cluster-back comprising a reticulated basket and an integral annular rim at its. upper end,

and one or more lugs projecting upwardly from said rim.

2. In gem settings of the type employing separable cluster tops and backings, a cluster-back comprisinga single sheet of seamless metal provided with piercings simulating gem facets and having a conical basket shape including an annular rim at its upper end integral with the basket, and a perforation at its apex, and lugs'projecting upwardly from said rim.

3. In gem settings of the type employing separable cluster top and backings, the combination with a cluster-back comprising a reticulated basket and an integral annular :rim at its upper end, and one or more lugs ,pIOJGCtlIIg upwardly therefrom, Qi'fit cluster top having mating notches in itsbase and adapted for nterlocking engagement with said lugs to prevent relative turning movement betweenthe said cluster-back and clusengaging said lugs of the cluster back to hold said back and top against relative rotary movement, said cluster top also held to said back against said claws vat tlieouter 1 ends of tl101111gn101111t prongs;

5. In gem settings,'a cluster back for clus ter settings comprising a coneshaped openwork' basket of metal, the piercings repre senting facets of -a precious stone, and insertions in said piercings further simulating the eifectsof facets of .such stone.

6. In gem settings, a cluster back for use with a separable cluster top, c0mprising a basket-like body portion and an integralannular rim at its upper edge, said body port on provided with p ercings insertions of transparent enamel, and means for quick interchangeably interlock ng said'back with a cluster 1 top.

seamless relatively thin sheet metal blank reticulated and dished to fOIEIIl'zttP-HDCEItQd cone-shape basket like body andan annular or lug projecting axially therefromand adapted for interlocking and interchangeable engagement with a cluster top. t

OTTOP. BAIL'ER.

As anew article of manufacture, a

cluster back for gem settings consisting ofa g rim at itsupper end, saidirimcarrying a nib 

